Stephen A. Smith didn’t mince words while responding to Kenny Atkinson’s remarks that the Cavaliers — down 0-3 in the Eastern Conference finals against the Knicks — were analytically winning the series.
During Monday’s installment of “First Take” on ESPN, Smith said the second-year Cavs coach could have a pink slip waiting for him if Cleveland gets swept in Game 4 on Monday night at Rocket Arena.
“That moment right there, that is why Kenny Atkinson deserves to be an assistant coach,” Smith said. “Now obviously I’m being facetious… For any coach to have that come out of their mouth, it’s egregious.
“… Numbers do matter, they play a significant role… let’s stop acting like this is new… what’s new is the focus that has been placed on it in terms of justification for hiring certain dudes to run your franchise.
“… People like him give you the impression that as long as the numbers say something, they’re good. You are down three to nothing in a conference finals. You walked in four games away from a championship appearance and now you’re on the verge of getting swept and what comes out of your mouth [is that].
“That’s the certain kind of stuff… there are some [owners] out there that would have the pink slip ready for him the second they lose tonight just because of stuff like that. You can’t say that, you just can’t.”
Atkinson’s take made waves across social media.
“I think analytically, we’ve won two out of three in the expected score,” Atkinson told reporters in a press conference Sunday.
“I don’t know if you guys follow that, the expected score. And I know you’re looking confused.”
His team is up against it after he led the Cavaliers to a franchise-best 64-18 regular-season record and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year — which earned him NBA Coach of the Year for the 2024-25 season.
In their last four games this postseason, all five of the Knicks’ starters have scored in double digits, a team playoff record.
New York is on a 10-game win streak in the 2026 playoffs, including a perfect 5-0 in its last five playoff road games.
The Knicks could complete a series sweep on the road tonight.